According to three recent studies, start-ups need customer insights as much as they need funding – if not more. Customer insights are they key to ensuring that people actually want what a start-up is developing. In my new Forbes article, I recap research findings from start-up studio Wilbur Labs, the Harvard Business Review, and the […]
Innovation is supposed to drive growth and increase competitiveness, but if your innovation efforts aren’t producing the results they used to, it’s probably because product innovation is losing its power to produce sustainable growth. Broader, more pervasive innovations are needed today. Specifically innovations in business model — new operating models that deliver different value propositions […]
One thing I’ve learned from working with business leaders through three recessions and against fierce competition in fast-paced industries such as retail and digital technology is that it’s not enough to simply adapt to change. Adapting to change means you merely react to it, like playing Whac-A-Mole. One change pops up, and as soon as […]
What does it take for a small business to scale? An infusion of money? A stream of innovations? A big growth spurt? Research and consulting firm TrueSpace and Gallup have issued a new report that identifies the operating conditions that foster sustainable growth among post-startup companies. The research shows growth-minded small businesses should narrow their […]
Over 15 years have passed since Harvard Business School professor and innovation expert Clay Christensen introduced the “jobs to be done” theory of innovation but his insights remain timely, relevant, and instructive. By seeking to understand what customers are trying to do in a given circumstance — what they hope to accomplish — companies can […]
In this era of unicorns and hot IPOs, it’s easy to get caught up in the stories of start-up successes. But start-up failures are far more common. The folks at CB Insights found that 70% of upstart tech companies fail. And consumer hardware startups fail even more frequently, with 97% ultimately dying or becoming “zombies.” […]
Apple announced it is moving into services — Netflix-type services, curating and streaming content. It’s a pretty big shift for a company that’s been primarily in hardware and software. If any company CAN make the shift, it’s Apple — but I wonder if it SHOULD. Will the core of the Apple brand be eroded in […]
A couple of years ago, Gartner predicted that by 2019, more than 50% of organizations will redirect their investments to customer experience (CX) innovation. But even if you prioritize CX innovation, you might not know how to actually do it. You might try to innovate in CX by developing new digital capabilities or testing new technologies. […]
As 2019 begins, it’s time to reclaim marketing as a key driver of business. Management guru Peter Drucker once said, “Because its purpose is to create a customer, the business enterprise has two — and only these two — basic functions: marketing and innovation.” Clearly most business leaders embrace innovation as the lifeblood of their […]
Unless you’ve been living in a cave for the past few years, you haven’t missed how dramatically the retail industry and shopping has changed. But with so much change, it’s sometimes hard to tell the forest for the trees. Thankfully the folks at RetailNext have identified five retail trends that you can’t afford to miss. […]